Wasteful Meath kept on leash

With a second successive Leinster SFC win staring them in the face for the first time in nine years, Meath managed to implode and allow Laois back into the equation following Sunday's quarter-final draw at rain-soaked Croke Park. In the past Meath have been justified when complaining about a lack of luck, but on Sunday there can be such excuses offered as Laois threatened to hand them victory on a silver platter following Michael Nolan's horrendous goalkeeping error that wouldn't have been out of place at the World Cup. After conceding the last three points of normal time to allow Laois force extra-time, Meath looked all set for the win when Nolan totally misjudged Cormac McGuinness's hopeful centre and allowed the ball slip to the net to hand the Royals a 2-13 to 1-13 lead with five minutes remaining. However, just as they did in the closing stages of normal time, Meath conceded the next three scores with John O'Loughlin lofting over the equalising score to force a replay next Saturday. Meath can have no complaints. In fact they can count themselves fortunate that they weren't beaten because when Laois got their gander up they caused plenty of problems with the troublesome Meath rearguard again shaking under intense pressure. There were long periods of the contest, especially in the first-half, when Meath looked the better side. They threw the ball around well, found decent space, took great scores and defended with a solididity that was missing against Offaly. There were also times when Meath looked clueless and bereft of ideas. When Laois ran at the Royal defence they caused countless problems as players on the overlap were not tracked back and too much room was afforded to players out in front. When they were good the Meath forwards were excellent. Cian Ward, Shane O'Rourke and Stephen Bray all showed well in front of their markers and won crucial ball, but much of the decisive play was absent with the final ball missing its mark. Joe Sheridan caused plenty of problems under the high ball, while the superb contribution of Graham Reilly was the highlight of a Meath performance that had more downs than ups. The St Colmcille's man was always a willing runner and popped up at the beginning, middle and end of crucial moves and finished with 1-4 to his name. The non-stop hard working of Seamus Kenny also sustained Meath, while Michael Burke and Brian Meade mopped up a lot of possession around midfield. Kevin Reilly had his hands full against Donie Kingston and later Padraig Clancy, but did well on his return, while Chris O'Connor, Eoghan Harrington and Caoimhin King were vastly improved. However, all was good when Meath were doing well. It was when the momentum switched in Laois's favour that Meath looked ragged. The heavy rain that fell throughout made much of the play a lottery, but Laois coped better. They retained possession easier and found players in space at their ease. Meath looked tired for the final quarter and the whole of extra-time. The ball-winning forwards resorted to contesting high balls, while the backs settled to let their direct opponent win initial possession and then throw in a tackle. It just wasn't good enough and Meath can consider themselves lucky to have a second bite. After watching his side squander a lead in normal time Eamonn O'Brien rang the changes for extra-time, but they couldn't add impetus to a flagging Meath side. Conor Gillespie was excellent when introduced, but Brian Farrell will quickly want to forget his contribution and he was replaced at the break in extra-time. The early stages had looked so promising for Meath. Darren Strong gave Laois a lead after 52 seconds, but that was the only time they were in front. A foul by Cathal Ryan on Joe Sheridan off the ball allowed Cian Ward equalise and 90 seconds later they received a great boost when Graham Reilly produced a soccer style finish to make it 1-1 to 0-1 after Cian Ward's high centre was broken well by Sheridan. Laois did respond positively. Kingston converted two frees after Kevin Reilly was harshly adjudged to have over-carried and after Kenny was forced to foul Ross Munnelly following his dreadful pass. Graham Reilly settled Meath again with his first two points and when Sheridan drove over from a narrow angle Meath looked set for an easy win. However, Laois refused to give up. Munnelly pointed a free after a silly foul by King and although Cian Ward replicated that score it was Kingston who closed the gap to 0-5 to 1-5. Both Kingston and Cian Ward struck the upright before Meath took what looked to be a decisive lead when O'Rourke pointed to make it 1-6 to 0-5 at the break. Scores were scarce after the resumption. A point apiece from Graham Reilly and a M J Tierney '45' after Clancy was denied a goal by a brilliant Kenny tackle maintained Meath's four-point cushion with 15 minutes remaining. Graham Reilly made it a five-point advantage for Meath, but Laois dug deep. Another super score from Kingston was followed by a rasping goal from corner-back Padraig McMahon and suddenly there was just a point in it, 1-7 to 1-8. Meath responded well to the concession of the goal with Sheridan and O'Rourke on target. However, Laois responded positively again with Clancy causing problems and nailed two points after Tierney had converted a free to force extra-time. Meath kicked the first two scores of extra-time with Sheridan and Gillespie lofting over, but again Laois hit back with Kingston (free) and Cahir Healy making it 1-12 each at the break in extra-time. Bray and Kingston traded scores before Meath were put in the driving seat by Nolan's calamity, but Meath couldn't hold as a Tierney free was followed by a brace of O'Loughlin points to force next Saturday's replay at Tullamore, 7.0. SCORERS Meath - G Reilly 1-4; J Sheridan 0-3; C McGuinness 1-0; C Ward 0-2, frees; S O'Rourke 0-2; C Gillespie 0-1; S Bray 0-1. Laois - D Kingston 0-6, three frees; M J Tierney 0-3, two frees, one '45'; P McMahon 1-0; J O'Loughlin 0-2; P Clancy 0-2; D Strong 0-1; C Healy 0-1; R Munnelly 0-1, free. THE TEAMS Meath - P O'Rourke; C O'Connor, K Reilly, Eoghan Harrington; M Burke, A Moyles, C King; B Meade, M Ward; S Kenny, J Sheridan, G Reilly; C Ward, S O'Rourke, S Bray. Subs - P Byrne for G Reilly 55 mins, J Queeney for C Ward 62m, G O'Brien for King 69m; extra-time - B Farrell for Bray, C McGuinness for Kenny, C Gillespie for M Ward, S Bray for Farrell, J Macken for Moyles. Laois - M Nolan; P O'Leary, M Timmons, P McMahon; C Healy, C Ryan, C Begley; B Quigley, K Meaney; B Sheehan, C Rogers, D Strong; P Cahillane, D Kingston, R Munnelly. Subs - P Clancy for Cahillane 32 mins, J O'Loughlin for Sheehan 48m, M J Tierney for Strong 50m, P Lawlor for Rogers 63m; extra-time - D Booth for Ryan, N Donoher for Munnelly, D Rooney for Meaney. REFEREE Marty Duffy (Sligo).